Eating disorders related to postpartum depression

Depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum are higher among women suffering from either binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa. The risk is also higher in women who are perfectionists. Researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, USA, evaluated more than 1,100 women who had each given birth to one or more children. Women completed questionnaires assessing perfectionism, eating disorder symptoms and depression during pregnancy and postpartum. Information regarding participants' history of major depressive disorder was also taken from structured psychiatric interviews completed during earlier data collection. It was observed that symptoms of depression during pregnancy, baby blues and postpartum depression were higher among women with eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa raised the odds of postpartum depression more than threefold while binge-eating disorder raised the odds more than twofold. Women with eating disorders appear to be at as much, if not greater, risk for developing depression during pregnancy or postpartum as those with a history of major depressive disorder. Even after correcting lifetime major depressive disorder, postpartum depression correlated with concern over mistakes and doubts about one's abilities. The findings suggest that the severity of symptoms in those who reported postpartum depression, may be accounted for by specific aspects of perfectionism, primarily concern over making mistakes. The researching team advised doctors to ask pregnant patients about their histories of eating disorders and assess the features of perfectionism, since these traits help to identify at-risk individuals, and facilitate primary prevention of postpartum depression.